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Faculty member on foundation supports strong presence

The only University of Georgia faculty member on the UGA Foundation stands behind faculty leaders who want a greater presence on the foundation's board of trustees.

Gary Bertsch, director of UGA's Center for International Trade and Security, said Monday that additional faculty representation on the 51-member foundation board of trustees would benefit both the foundation and the state's flagship institution.

The foundation is a non-profit, fund-raising arm of UGA established more than 60 years ago to manage the university's endowment.

''I think there's an important education function that faculty can play with the foundation,'' Bertsch said. ''I think they can keep (trustees) informed about programs, and student's activities and needs.

''And they can also play an important role in fund raising for the university by getting out and showing the face of UGA.''

Bertsch, a trustee for eight years, was appointed by former UGA President Charles Knapp.

The university's other representatives are all administrators - President Michael Adams, Provost Arnett Mace and Art Dunning, an associate provost and UGA's senior vice president for public service and outreach.

At its meeting last Thursday, the University Council - the body that recommends UGA policies for Adams' approval - authorized Chairman Scott Weinberg to make the request of foundation trustees.

Weinberg on Monday said he attempted unsuccessfully to contact UGA Foundation Chairwoman Lynda Courts, who is in Aspen, Colo.

The University Council wants to elect three additional faculty members to serve as trustees, in large part because of the controversy that has rocked the foundation in recent months, Weinberg said.

Trustees in July commissioned an audit of Adams' spending of donor dollars. Released three months later, the audit report harshly criticized Adams' spending habits and, according to Weinberg, likely sparked faculty interest in joining the foundation board of trustees.

''I think that the foundation business all of the sudden has come to light. Up until now, a lot of the faculty really had no idea what the foundation did,'' Weinberg said.

Weinberg and other University Council members contend that additional faculty would diversify the board of trustees, now predominantly Atlanta business people.

''I think it would be great to have everyday teaching faculty on (the board) because the kinds of wants and desires they have are not politically motivated,'' Weinberg said. ''Maybe it's a window of opportunity to get some more faculty in a position that might allow them to help students.''

Courts, reached by cell phone, refused to comment on the faculty proposal, saying she first wanted to speak with Adams, other trustees and the foundation's interim executive director, Allan Barber.

''I just heard about this through an e-mail today,'' Courts said. ''I need some perspective before I make a statement.''